Friday, December 19, 2008

1. TERRIFIC CHOICES: A CLEAR MESSAGE ON THE ENVIRONMENT.

Any concern that the economic crisis would soften the resolve of the Obama administration to deal with the sad state of the environment was swept away today by the choice of Harvard physicist John Holdren to be presidential science advisor, and Oregon State marine biologist Jane Lubchenco to head the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration. Both have battled industry opposition to climate initiatives. Along with Steve Chu as Secretary of Energy they should form a powerful block of scientists in the Obama administration. It will almost certainly be the most influence science has had in the White House since the Eisenhower administration. But we don't have much time. Let me tell you what no one else is saying publicly: every step we take to improve the environment will soon be wiped out by population growth. The fact is that we are already beyond a sustainable population. We can't keep talking in terms of reducing the rate of growth. That's the second derivative.

2. BAD CHOICE: IT'S ONLY AN INAUGURAL INVOCATION, BUT…

The story about science nominees didn't make it into today's early edition of the NY Times. With a tiny headline and postage stamp-sized head shots, it was hidden on page A6 of the Wash Post beside an almost full-page Macy's “parfum” ad. The story that got the attention was that Rick Warren, pastor of the humongous evangelical Saddleback Church in Orange County, is going to deliver the inaugural invocation. A Wash Post photo shows Warren and Barrack Obama with arms around each other's shoulder. Gays, offended by Warren's opposition to gay marriage, are pissed. But Warren also opposes plan B, in vitro fertilization, abortion rights and stem-cell research. Clear-headed humans should all be offended by that. Every environmental problem is linked to population growth.

3. NOT CHOSEN: VATICAN ISSUES "DIGNITAS PERSONAE."

While evangelicals make up a little more than a fourth of the adult U.S. population, Catholics are not far behind. Together they're half the population. On issues involving human reproduction Catholics and Evangelicals are close together. There is little hope unless individuals disagree with the positions of their church. The title of the Vatican bioethics report is a reminder that President Bush said he vetoed the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act in 2006 to protect "the dignity of embryos." Is it more dignified to be put through a disposal than used in research (WN 21 Jul 06)?

4. DEEP THROAT: MARK FELT, GENUINE AMERICAN HERO, DEAD AT 95.

The second highest official in the FBI, Felt secretly guided reporters to uncover the Watergate scandal. Conscientious government employees, willing to risk their careers by leaking information that should be public, are the last check on government excess (WN 15 Dec 06) .

Bob Park can be reached via email at whatsnew@bobpark.org
THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND
Opinions are the author's and are not necessarily shared by the University, but they should be.